The Reds host seventh-placed Bolton Wanderers from 3pm on Saturday.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
Barnsley (4-3-3): Flavell; O’Keeffe, Roberts, McCarthy, Earl; Phillips, Connell, Russell; Keillor-Dunn, Watters, Humphrys.
Bolton (3-5-2): Baxter; Jones, Forino, Johnston; Osei-Tutu, Morley, Sheehan, Dempsey, Dacres-Cogley; McAtee, Collins.
TEAM NEWS
Barnsley: Injured: Neil Farrugia, Jackson Smith (hamstring), Joe Gauci (hip), Georgie Gent (Achilles). Doubts: Josh Benson (hamstring), Josh Earl, Barry Cotter. Suspended: Mael de Gevigney. Bolton: Out injured: Victor Adeboyejo (knee), Will Forrester (hamstring), Eoin Toal (hamstring). Doubts: Szabi Schon (calf).
OPPOSITION VIEW
Marc Iles, Bolton News
Judging the season as a whole, Bolton have underperformed.
But there have been signs of improvement under Steven Schumacher since the end of January and there is a slim hope they will still finish in the top six and embark upon yet another play-off campaign (this time without the chance of meeting Barnsley).
Tuesday night’s defeat against Rotherham summed it up – 30 shots at goal, 58 crosses, 70 per cent possession but diddly squat points reward.
KEY PLAYER
John McAtee
McAtee was one of Barnsley’s star men last season, netting 15 goals in all competitions on loan from Luton Town.
Bolton signed him for a reported £1million in the summer and, after a rocky start, he is now their joint top-scorer with 11 goals.
That is despite sometimes playing on the left of a central midfield three, rather than up front where he spent most of his time with the Reds.
McAtee opened the scoring in this fixture last season for Barnsley.
He could play up front with Aaron Collins who is the other joint top-scorer.
Collins has not won a league game against the Reds, in seven attempts, but netted against them in the play-offs last year.
Another player to watch out for is Jordi Osei-Tutu who is likely to play at left wing-back.
The former Arsenal youngster has been hindered by injuries but, after spells in Germany and Greece, he is playing regularly for Bolton and has impressed with his pace and direct running.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Reds 1, Trotters 3 – May 3, 2024
Barnsley’s chances of returning to Wembley were dealt a major blow in this first leg of the play-off semi-final. Home captain Jordan Williams – playing his 200th game – sold Liam Roberts short with a terrible backpass and the goalkeeper conceded a penalty which was converted by Dion Charles, for a second goal of the game to make it 2-0. Substitute Sam Cosgrove replied but Randell Williams’ corner was allowed to go all the way in in the final seconds. Martin Devaney’s team won the second leg 3-2 but lost out on aggregate.
Reds 0, Trotters 3 – January 2, 2023
Mads Andersen was sent off minutes into this game for a foul on Dion Charles who scored the penalty. The ten men held their own until Robbie Cundy lost the ball in his box just before the break for a crucial second goal. A third was added late on. The Reds then won the next nine home league games – their best such run for 100 years.
Reds 2, Trotters 2 – April 14, 2018
Oli McBurnie scored an injury-time leveller to keep Barnsley just about in a relegation fight which they would eventually lose, with Bolton staying up ahead of them on the last day. Gary Gardner had put the hosts in front but Bolton came back late on with a penalty conceded by George Moncur and a Craig Noone volley.
Reds 2, Trotters 3 – March 2, 2013
A setback in Barnsley’s ‘great escape’ under David Flitcroft. The visitors went 2-0 up but Tomasz Cywka and Chris O’Grady drew the hosts level. Craig Dawson won it with his second goal of the game.
Reds 2, Trotters 1 – August 27, 1997
Barnsley’s most recent league victory at Oakwell over Bolton was in the Premier League. Eric Tinkler put the hosts in front then England man Peter Beardsley levelled only for Georgi Hristov to win it early in the second half.
